Ways to Give

The Student And Faculty Excellence (SAFE) Fund

Initially endowed by Hughlene and Bill Frank, the College of Arts and Sciences Student and Faculty Excellence (SAFE) Fund provides resources that can be used to support undergraduate, graduate and faculty experiences. The SAFE Fund provides funding for college priorities and opportunities that arise throughout the year. These unrestricted funds support student and faculty travel, publication support for faculty and student research opportunities.

Stats

On average, the SAFE Fund provides 32 grants per semester.

Faculty and students are awarded an approximate total of $15,000 per semester.

$39,900 in Student and Faculty Excellence (SAFE) Funds were awarded to 19 faculty and 70 students during the 2023-24 academic year to assist with student and faculty travel, publication support for faculty and student research opportunities.

By semester, that breaks down to:

Fall 2023: 29 student awards totaling $7,150 and 4 faculty awards totaling $3,800
Spring 2024: 41 student awards totaling $14,500 and 15 faculty awards totaling $14,450

Support

There are two ways to support the SAFE Fund:

Annual Fund

The SAFE Annual Fund allows for the distribution of your contribution in the current year.

Annual Fund Code: 92633

Endowment

The Hughlene Bostian Frank and William Allen Frank Student And Faculty Excellence (SAFE) Endowment

The SAFE Endowment Fund has been established in order to help future generations of students and faculty. With the SAFE Endowment, only the income earned by long-term investments of donor contributions can be used each year. Gifts to the endowment can include estate bequests and gifts from charitable trusts.

Endowment Fund Code: 97006

SAFE Grant

Dr. Ellen Lamont, associate professor in Appalachian State University's Department of Sociology, is the co-author of a recent paper published in Social Currents. Photo by University Communications.

SAFE Fund supports study by Dr. Ellen Lamont

Jan 22, 2025

BOONE, N.C. — Dr. Ellen Lamont, associate professor in Appalachian State University's Department of Sociology, is the co-author of a recent paper pu...

The College of Arts and Sciences at Appalachian State University is accepting applications for the Student and Faculty Excellence (SAFE) Fund with a deadline of Monday, February 10, 2025, at 5:00 p.m.

Apply for the Spring 2025 SAFE Fund through February 10

Jan 17, 2025

BOONE, N.C. — The College of Arts and Sciences at Appalachian State University is accepting applications for the Student and Faculty Excellence (SAF...

Oliver Sullivan is a graduate student in the Master of Arts in Industrial-Organizational Psychology and Human Resource Management program. Photo submitted

SAFE Student Spotlight: Oliver Sullivan

Dec 17, 2024

Oliver SullivanFall 2023 SAFE Fund RecipientProject: "Perceived vs. Actual: Bridging the Gap in the Understanding of Psychology Majors’ Skills"Olive...

Maggie Vaughn is a senior biology major from Nebo. Photo submitted

SAFE Student Spotlight: Maggie Vaughn

Dec 10, 2024

Maggie VaughnFall 2023 SAFE Fund RecipientProject: "Toward an Improved Synthesis of Dental Adhesives"Maggie Vaughn, a senior biology major from Nebo, ...

What can your gift support?

Your dollars can support:

$35 can cover student registration at a state-based or regional conference (especially if the student is presenting at a poster session)
$40 can cover mileage reimbursement to a conference (especially if multiple students apply and can then share a ride)
$50 can purchase supplies for research labs, replace equipment or provide a financial incentive/reward for subjects in a research project
$100 can cover a night of lodging, costs of printing materials for a conference presentation or the purchase of research subject information or participants
$250+ awards a SAFE grant for a student to present at a conference or to purchase materials needed to conduct research
$500 is a typical award amount for a faculty SAFE grant which can be used for numerous things such as to complete a book project, pay a student worker, purchase equipment or assist with travel expenses to present at a conference

Other Opportunities

There are numerous other needs in the college and the departments that we support. Here are some other ways you can contribute to student and faculty success:

$1,000 per year with a four year commitment provides donors with the opportunity to name a scholarship
$5,000 per year with a five year commitment provides donors with the opportunity to endow a named scholarship
$10,000 covers the cost to hire a full-time research assistant
$12,000+ names a classroom space in the newly-renovated Sanford Hall
$15,000+ provides one semester's worth of funding for the SAFE Fund grant awards to faculty and students

College Funds

The following is a list of all funds in CAS. To give to a fund, click here and search for the fund name. For more information about a fund, contact Jasmin McFayden, CAS Director of Development, at (828) 262-4019 or mcfaydenja@appstate.edu.

Alliance for Teaching Science Endowment
Arthel (Doc) Watson Endowed Scholarship for Traditional Mountain Music
Benjamin Frosst Little Endowed Scholarship for International Travel
Bill and Hughlene Frank Fund for Arts & Sciences
Bill Morgan Symposium Endowment
Billy and Del Hunt Helton Faculty Excellence Fund for the College of Arts and Sciences
Billy and Del Hunt Helton Faculty Excellence Fund for the College of Arts and Sciences - Current Fund
Calamai Family Endowed Award for College of Arts and Sciences Faculty and Student Engagement in Scholarship
College of Arts and Sciences General Scholarship Fund
College of Arts and Sciences Dean's Fund
College of Arts and Sciences Dean's Student Involved Research Fund
College of Arts and Sciences Dean's Teaching Enhancement Fund
College of Arts and Sciences Endowment
Don Sink Family Outstanding Scholar Award Endowment
Dr. Kevin Bell Memorial Endowed Optometry Scholarship
Dr. William C. Strickland Outstanding Young Faculty Award Endowment for the College of Arts and Sciences
Drs. Joanne Smith and Don R. Brannon Scholarship for Natural Sciences
Edith A. Goodman Memorial Scholarship for Mathematics and Computer Science Endowment
Environmental Science Program
Fermentation Sciences Program
Freshman Class Scholarship for Wayne and Craven Counties
Glaxo Women in Science Scholars Endowment
H. W. Wilson Family Scholarship
Humanities Council Fund
John W. Taylor and Mary L. Taylor Memorial Scholarship for Math and Computer Science Endowment
Jonathan K Perryman Endowed Memorial Scholarship for the Sciences
June and Robert Hege Endowment for the College of Arts and Sciences
Larry And Anita Narvarte Kitchens Endowed Scholarship for Mathematics, Statistics, Chemistry and Computer Science
Lloyd L. Hobbs Memorial Scholarship for the Physical Sciences
Peggy Harmon Shore Pre-Health Care Professional Endowed Scholarship
Rachel Harris Larson Henry and John Watson Henry Scholarship
Richard A. Thomas Memorial Scholarship for Arts and Sciences
Roland Frederick Moy International Affairs Study Away Scholarship
Sally A. Callegari Memorial Scholarship for Gender Diversity in Animal Studies
Samuel Bedell Little Endowed Scholarship for International Travel
The Dr. Donald B Saunders Memorial Scholarship for History Honors Students
The Geography and Math Non-Traditional Graduate Student Professional Development Fund
The Marvin Hoffman/McGill Associates Local Government Scholarship
The Student Career Accelerator Endowed Scholarship
The Vickers Current Scholarship for Sociology, History, or Political Science
The Vickers Endowed Scholarship for Sociology, History, or Political Science
Thomas Edgar Sikes, Sr. and Mary Ann Mitchell Sikes Memorial Endowment for Environmental Concerns